This is definitely enough to feed a family of two for a week, and so long as you like soup, you can definitely get a fair few meals out of it (Image: Essex Live)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from EdinburghLive - Daily News

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More

Related Articles

Read More

Related Articles

Fortunately, our sister site Essex Live managed to order one on the day they were released so we could see what’s inside.

This is what their reporter Brad thought of the new £25 food parcel:

Ease of ordering

Here is what the box looks like when it arrives on your doorstep (Image: Essex Live)

When I first logged on to buy the box, I was placed in an online queue on the Aldi website.

These Aldi food parcels were always going to be popular, so I knew that I'd have to be lucky to get my hands on one.

As a family, we're currently shopping for three households. Two of those homes contain family members over the age of 70 who are deemed to be vulnerable by the government.

The essentials box guaranteed things that we've been struggling to get for our family - like UHT milk and hand wash.

Aldi displayed the full list of items I was set to receive in the box - which was a relief, as I wasn't just going to receive a random selection.

After waiting in the queue for less than a minute, I was able to secure a parcel, fill in my delivery and payment details in under five minutes.

It couldn't have been easier.

They told me to expect the parcel within 3 to 10 working days, and that I'd receive delivery details from the courier on the day it was set to be delivered.

Sure enough, on Tuesday (April 21) morning, I got an email from the courier company Hermes telling me to prepare for a delivery between 12pm and 4pm.

Want more news from Edinburgh Live? Here's how:

To receive one WhatsApp message a day with our top stories text NEWS to 07899067815, then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'. Also, like our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The Hermes delivery man had placed the package on the doorstep, taken several steps back and waited until I'd opened the door.

He then gave me the thumbs up, and hopped back into his van.

The box weighed a tonne, and if I was an older, more frail customer, I would have probably had trouble lifting it into my house.

As the rest of my family were using quarantine as an excuse to paint the kitchen, I took the box to the back garden to unpack.

What condition were the items in?

(Image: Essex Live)

This is where things started to go pear-shaped.

I opened the box and realised that the items inside hadn't been packaged with much care or attention.

The items were loose in the box, with only a few strips of thin cardboard put in as protective packaging.

This meant that, unfortunately, most of the items inside were in a poor condition.

(Image: Essex Live)

Almost all of the tinned food - which there were a lot of - had dents in their tins.

The toilet roll packet - notoriously difficult to get a hold of these days - had split open, and wasn't far away from being completely loose in the box.

Similarly, the tea bags, chocolate sticks and UHT milk all had severely damaged packaging or were slightly open.

The UHT milk, jar of bolognese and hand wash were in additional plastic bags to contain leaks if they occurred.

(Image: Essex Live)

Thankfully, none of the items had burst or leaked, but aside from maybe the rice, pasta and a packet to make homemade bread, I don't think I would have picked any of these items in store based on their condition.

Not a good start.

On top of that, a couple items weren't as advertised.

For example, the chocolate fondant sticks in my box wasn't the regular bar of chocolate promised in the package.

On the other hand, I did get a large bag of peanuts and extra rolls to cook in the oven that I wasn't promised online.

It's unfair to say that this was anyone's fault.

Both Aldi and Hermes are operating under intense pressure at the moment, and it's understandable why things may go unchecked.

But the condition of these items could have been improved if there was a bit more padding in the box.

Read More

Related Articles

None of the items were damaged, but very easily could have been if the delivery van had gone over a few more bumps, and I wouldn't be surprised if other customers had leaks throughout their food parcel.

In store, I would not have expected to pay full price concerning the condition of some of the items.

What do you get?

(Image: Essex Live)

Aldi offer the same box for everyone, with the same 22 'essential items'.

These don't include any fresh dairy, meat or vegetables - all of it is tinned or in long-life packaging.

The food parcel contents are subject to availability, which may explain why some of my items were swapped out for other ones.

On the store website, you are told that the box contains:

Antibacterial Handwash

Aloe Vera Toilet Tissue 4pk

Choceur Milk Chocolate Bar

UHT Green Semi Skimmed Milk

Rice Pudding

Salted Peanuts

Biscuit Barrel Assortment

Gold Label Tea

Instant Coffee

Premium Baked Beans

Premium Plum Tomatoes

Bolognese Pasta Sauce

Tuna Chunks In Brine 4pack

Bramwells Carrot & Coriander Soup

Tomato Soup

Minestrone Soup

Chilli Con Carne

Basmati Rice 1kg

Fusilli

Part Baked Brown Roll

Sliced Carrots

4 Pack Sweetcorn

This is definitely enough to feed a family of two for a week, and so long as you like soup, you can definitely get a fair few meals out of it.

However, compared with the slightly more expensive Morrisons box, you don't get the same variety and quality of ingredients, which included fresh meat and vegetables.

It's understandable though, as this is the first time Aldi have ever offered food delivery.